Flatiron support mechanism



Nov. 7, 1950 P. cUREToN I 2,528,821

' I FLATIRON SUPPORT MECHANISM Filed July-7, 1947 2 Sheets-sheet 1 12J Mil-TQ:- 15-'2 n vf,

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FLATIRoN sUProRT MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.' PAM 5095704/ Patentecl Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATE FLATIRON SUPPORT MECHANISM Paul Cureton, Long Beach, Calif.

Application July 7, 1947, Serial No. 759,409

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fiat irons and has f particular reference to means mountable on such iron for maintaining the iron in an elevated position relative to the ironing board or other supporting surface therefor, when not in use. To this end the invention consists in the combinations hereinafter fully'described and illustrated in the pending drawings, of which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an electric iron embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of the underside of of Fig. l;

Fig. y3 is a side elevational view showing the device in a different position of adjustment and with additional features embodied therein; and Fig. l is afragmentary detail view of. important elements of the invention.

the device In the form illustrated in the drawings, the Y device of the invention is mounted on a conventional type of electric iron including a body I and a handle 2. The latter is secured to arms 3, 4 rising from the body in the usual commercially well known manner.

As indicated in the drawings, a bracket 5 extends rearwardly from the body I. This bracket is shaped to receive a short rod or stem 6 which, in turn, forms part of the supporting device of the invention. This device is composed of two main portions, one of which is a forwardly extending bifurcated frame 'I and the other a rearwardly projecting bail 8. These parts are rigidly' secured to the stem 6 and are mounted for rotation within bearings ,at the end of the bracket 5.

In addition to the foregoing, it is noticed that a pair of short studs 9 project forward from the stem 6 and that they terminate at the front end in ball-shaped heads In. A second pair of ballshaped members I'I is rigidly secured to the body of the iron by means of short studs I2. A powerful compression spring I3 bridges a space between each set of ball heads I!! and I I and these springs control the position of the supporting device relative to the iron in the following manner. The bifurcated frame 'I forms the foot upon which the iron comes to rest when it is in the upwardly tilted position of Fig. 3 and it is returnable to the position of Fig. 1, within the contour of the iron, so as tobe entirely out of the way while the latter is in operation. The springs I3 are designed yieldingly to maintain the support firmly in either position. In order to attain this result, it is necessary that the two sets of ball heads IU, Il are correctly positioned relative to each other. Illustrative ofl this relation, I have shown the ball heads Il and the stem 6 inter- 2 sected by a horizontal'line A-A and it is noted that the ball heads I'fVin the position indicated in Fig. 1, take a position slightly above this intersecting line while, in Fig. 3, they have moved to a position somewhat below this line.

As stated, the supporting device normally takes the out of the way position indicated in Fig. l and when it is desired to tilt the iron into the position of Fig.- 3 it is merely'required to tip the ironbackward until the end of the bail 8 contacts the ironing board or `other supporting surface whereupon slight continued pressure causes.

the bail to swing upward until the ball heads Il) pass over the dead center line A. Pressure of the springs I3 then causes the foot I to assume the projected position indicated in Fig. 3. The iron may be safely left in this position until again required for use, and it willrest solidly on the foot I at a sufficient distance-above the ironing board to eliminate vall danger of scorching. l

As stated, the foot i moves into position withinl the contour of the iron whenl not in use and it is to be noted that the sole plate I4 of the iron is recessed on each side freely to receive the foot. In order more correctly to position the foot in this position, it may be well tof-provide stoppins .I5 which serve to prevent direct Contact of the upper surface of the `footwith th body ofthe iron and so assist in forming an air space about the prongs of the fo'ot designed -to-preventundue heating'of the foot. y

The supporting device abovefdescrib'ed Iforms a very simple and effective means of maintaining an iron in'upwardly tilted position and, as stated, it is operable totilt on the iron'by contact -of the heel 8 with the'surface of the ironing board. When it is againd'esired to return on foot to the position of Fig. l, it is merely required to tilt the iron forward, whereupon pressure against the iron will cause the foot to swing over the dead center and the springs I3 'to return it to its withdrawn position. Means is provided for limiting outward movement of the foot 'I and such means is in the drawing shown in the form of an arm YI6 of the stem 6 which comes to a stop against the bracket '5 when theY foot is projected. It may be found desirable to modify the projecting movement of the foot and this may be done by placing an adjusting screw Il in the arm I6.

It may, however, at times be preferred manually to operate the supporting device independently v of any tilting movement of the iron and subsequent pressure against the supporting surface and this may be done in the following manner:

In a recess 2a of the handle is mounted a lever 20, on a pivot 2|, and a link 22 is journaled on the end `of this lever as indicated'in 2 3. This link is extended downward, and the lower end thereof is pivotally secured to the end of a stud 24 which is placed on the stem 6V intermediate Y the studs 9. A nger piece 25 is secured to the front end of this lever and it extends normally below the' surface ofthe handle 2,substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. When it is required to -move the foot 1 into the projected position of Fig. 3, it is merely required to lift the iron away from the board and to grip the handle 2 with sucient force to press the finger piece 25 into the recess 2EL thereby to cause the stem 6 to rotate until the ball heads l' pass below the dead center whereupon pressure of the spring i3 causes the supporting frame to swing into the position of Fig..3. Thisoperation may be further facilitated by placing a 'compression spring 26 on a bracket Y2'! of the arm 4 to bear against the under surface of the lever 2-. The tension of this spring will counteract the pressureexertedY by the springs I3 sufficiently materially to reduce the pressure required against the finger piece 25 to swing the supporting device into open position. It maybe well to place a pilot 28 in the lever 2to assist in maintaining the spring 26 correctly aligned relative thereto. But I wish it understood vthat Y this finger operated foot projecting mechanism is Amerely illustrative of manual projecting means andthat other arrangements may be substituted for this purpose.

When this lever controlled mechanismv isemployed to project the supporting foot` of the iron, it is to be noted that ,the bailr may be entirely eliminated since it is no longer essential to the operation thereof. This will have the advantage of reducing the manufacturing cost of the iron.

As above stated, the springs i3 ride on the ball heads I0, Il, against whichvthey exert considerable pressure. In order to eliminate friction and also so as to better support-the endsvof the I claim:

1. The combination with a flat 'iron operable on a support and having recesses at the bottom side edges thereof, of a bracket rearwardly extending from the body of the iron and terminating in bearings, a bifurcated frame transversely mounted for rotation within said bearings and having prongs forwardly extending therefrom normally to lodge within said recesses, a bail rearwardly extending from the frame for contact with said 4support upon backward tilting movement rof the iron, continued tilting movement thereof causing the bail and frame to swing on the frame pivot thereby to move the frame out of the said recesses, studs forwardly projecting from the frame in continued alignment with said bail, studs rearwardly projecting from the iron body, compression springs between the iron body studs and the frame studs normally exerting pressure to maintain the frame seated within said recesses and in the opposite direction upon starting said frame swinging movement.

2. The combination with a flat iron operable on a support and having recesses at the bottom side edgesthereof, of a bracket rearwardly extending from the body of the iron and terminating in bearings, a bifurcated frame transversely mounted for rotation within said bearings and having prongs forwardly extending therefrom normally `to lodge withinsaid recesses, a bail rearwardly extending fromthe frame for contact with said support upon backward tilting movementof lthe iron, continued tilting movement thereof causing the bail andframe to swing on the frame pivot'thereby .to move the frame out of the said recesses,v adjustable means limiting outward movement of the frame', studs forwardly projecting from-the frame in. continued alignbut. is equally well adapted for use on any of the K ment with said bail, studs rearwardly projecting from the iron body, compression springs between the iron body studs and the frame studs normally exerting pressure to maintain the frame seated within said recesses and in the opposite direction upon starting said frame swinging movement.

. l vPAUL CURETON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

v y v'UNITED STATES PATENTs Number Y2,422,595 Tangeman et al. June 1'7, 1947 

